Xtralis
85 Case Studies
Case Study: Calgary International Airport achieves award-winning runway and tunnel safety with Xtralis VESDA VLI and VESDA ECO
A Xtralis Case Study
Airport Utilizes Vli Smoke Detectors and Eco Gas Detection to Protect the Longest Runway in Canada and New Overpass
Calgary International Airport (YYC) undertook a major expansion—including Canada’s longest runway (4,270 m) and a 620 m six‑lane tunnel under the runway—that required robust fire and air‑quality protection for multiple traffic underpasses. The challenge was to provide reliable smoke and gas detection in harsh, outdoor tunnel environments while avoiding false alarms and operational disruption to airport traffic and flights, and to meet NFPA 502 safety requirements.
YYC installed 10 industrial VESDA VLI aspirating smoke detectors and 32 VESDA ECO gas detectors, housed in environmentally controlled cabinets for easy inspection without traffic interruption. The system monitors CO, H2S and smoke and automatically controls 32 100‑hp jet fans to isolate and exhaust contaminated cells (using minimal fans for gases and full, directional ventilation for smoke), preventing smoke cycling, improving firefighter access, reducing false alarms and operational impact—and contributing to a Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence.
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